Hugo Boss

On February 14th, Jason Wu presented his last collection for Hugo Boss after five years of loyal service. Under his leadership, the German label’s feminine silhouette gained in chic and sensuality. A progressive ascension, which culminated that evening in the presentation of a sophisticated and sporty collection, a true reflection of the designer’s accomplishments during all these years. A beautiful swan song.

The German brand Hugo Boss was launched in 1924 by Hugo Ferdinand Boss who founded a men's collection in a small workshop in Metzingen. After his death in 1948, his son-in-law, Eugen Holy, took over the label. However, it only became renowned as a high-end men’s clothing brand in 1970 when Eugen’s sons, Jochen and Uwe Holy, founded the Hugo Boss Group that year. The duo then changed the focus to men’s ready-to-wear creations with young cuts and quality materials. The brand only really took off in 1993 when CEO Peter Littmann created two new clothing lines: Hugo, the youngest and least expensive, and the more expensive Baldessarini. Several creations followed to diversify the Hugo Boss wardrobe, enriching it with many accessories amongst others. In 1998 the label took a first step into women's ready-to-wear with the Hugo Woman collection, then a second one two years later with Boss Woman. Designer Jason Wu has been leading Boss Woman since 2013.

Originally from Taiwan, Jason Wu was introduced to couture and design in Vancouver, where he grew up. After studying design, notably at the Parsons School of Design in New York, he presented his first collection in 2006, a year before launching his eponymous brand. Hard-working and dedicated, the fashion designer is famous for his neat and sexy designs, as well as for his use of ancestral sewing techniques. He caught the eye of Michelle Obama, who chose to wear one of his dresses at Barack Obama’s inauguration ball in 2009. The first lady repeated the experience several times, notably for her first cover of Vogue. In 2013, Jason Wu was appointed Creative Director of the German brand Hugo Boss women's collections. He presents his collections every season in New York.